Sports
Battery Host Colorado Springs on Saturday
The Charleston Battery host Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, April 29th, in an East vs. West showdown in the USL Championship. Kickoff at Patriots Point is set for 7:30 pm.
While the history between Charleston and Colorado Springs is brief, last year’s inaugural meeting was a memorable one. After a back-and-forth night with Switchbacks FC taking a 3-2 lead into stoppage time, AJ Paterson provided the late-game heroics and scored off a free-kick, off the crossbar, to earn the Battery a point at the death.
The Battery enter Saturday’s match as the top team in the Eastern Conference with a 4W–0L–3D record (15 pts). Last league match, Charleston played Louisville City FC to a 0-0 draw at home in a duel between the top teams in the conference. The Battery were in action again on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup, defeating Charlotte Independence in extra time, 1-0. Nick Markanich scored the match-winning goal in the 113th minute.
Switchbacks FC sit third in the Western Conference standings with a 4W–2L–1D record (13 pts). The Colorado club defeated New Mexico United, 2-1, in their last round of action. After going down 0-1 in the first minute of the second half, Colorado Springs equalized via an own goal and scored the eventual match-winner shortly after, by Drew Skundrich.
The Black and Yellow will look to keep their strong start to the season going against another formidable Western Conference side. Charleston rank third in goals scored (12) and tied for fourth in fewest goals conceded (6).
Colorado Springs have conceded the second-most fouls in the league so far (114), only Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC have more (115).
Saturday will see the return of former Battery players Romario Williams and Joe Kuzminsky in Charleston. Both signed with Switchbacks FC ahead of the 2023 season.
Leland Archer is a player to watch for the Battery, he currently leads Charleston in clearances with 32, good for sixth-most in the league.
Maalique Foster is one to keep an eye on for Switchbacks FC, the Jamaican international leads the team in chances created with 12.
Augi Williams is unavailable for Saturday’s contest due to a pair of yellow cards picked up in the Louisville game.
It will be Legacy Night at Patriots Point, presented by MUSC Health, on Saturday, commemorating club legends and team history as part of the Battery’s 30th-anniversary celebration.